Neon tube housing



June 2, 319340 c. c. LITTLE NEON TUBE HOUSING Filed April 27, 1931 INVENTOR Cecl/ C'- LUZ/6 ATTORNEYS Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel electrode housing for neon tubes of a type commonly used in illuminated signs and advertising displays.

The primary object of the present invention is 5 to devise an insulating housing for enclosing the electrodes that are mounted upon the ends of a glass tube which is filled with neon gas in a manner whereby electricity may be conducted through said tube by the neon gas which becomes illuminated. Various types of housings for fulfilling this purpose have been presented to the trade, it being required by fire underwriters in various States that this connection be completely enclosed, but conventional housings have been found defective in that they permit rain and snow to enter the same and destroy the required electrical contacts and thereby prevent eflicient functioning of the sign or advertising display. The present housing is designed to prevent the rain and snow from entering the same and thereby insures a perfect electrical contact between the electrode on the end of the tube and the contact plate that is connected to the supply line that enters the housing through a suitable opening provided therein.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of a novel form of contact that permits the end of the glass tube to project into the housing so that an electrical contact may be established between the electrode on the end of the tube and the lead in wire without subjecting the glass tube to any distortional strain. The glass tube becomes very brittle after it has been in use over a period of time and tends to break or crack at the bends therein if it is subjected to any strain and thereby permit the escape of the neon gas and prevent the sign from functioning.

With the above and other ends in view the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the present electrode housing, and

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of a fragment of a neon tube sign, illustrating the end of the tube inserted into the present housing.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designate corresponding parts.

The numeral 1 indicates a hollow body having flanges 2 formed adjacent the open end 3 thereof, the flanges being provided with drilled holes 4 through which bolts 5 are passed to secure the housing to an advertising sign or display 6. It will be noticed, however, that the fiat surfaces of the flanges 2 that engage the rear surface of sign 6 are angularly disposed relative to the axis of the body 1 and therefore the body 1 projects upwardly at an angle relative toa horizontal plane, the purpose of which will become apparent as the description progresses. The open end 3 of the housing 1 is slightly reduced in diameter and projects into or through the advertising sign 6.

On the inside of the closed end of the housing 1 is formed a projecting lug '7 into which is screwthreaded a set screw 8. Secured to the bottom of the lug 7 is a contact finger 9 that is bent to project outwardly towards the open end of the housing, the end of the set-screw 8 being received in a bore 10 formed in said contact plate. A small bore 11 is formed in the end of the housing 1 to accommodate a lead in wire 12 that is connected to any suitable electrical supply source, an opening 12 being provided to permit a screw driver to be inserted within the housing to adjust the set screw 8.

Secured to the front of the advertising sign by means of suitable clips or brackets 14, 6 is a glass tube 13 the tube being shaped to represent letters of the alphabet or various other figures or outlines. A sealing cap 15 is secured on the end of the tube 13 which is bent at an angle relative to the main portion of the tube so that it may project upwardly into the housing 1, the tube being filled with neon gas before the sealing cap is placed thereon.

An electrode 16 projects through the cap 15 into the tube and a chain 17 is secured to the outer end thereof to hang in a manner whereby Y the lower end thereof rests upon the contact plate 9.

The above described elements are duplicated at the upper end of the tube 13 and therefore the electric current flows from the lead in wire 12 at one end of the tube through the set-screw 8 to the plate 9, through the chain 17 tothe electrode l6 and is then conducted by the neon gas through the tube to the parts that are duplicated at the upper end of the tube, it being understood that the neon gas becomes illuminated while contraction of the tube does not result in distortional stress being exerted upon the portion of the tube that is bent to project into the housing and the manner in which the body of the housing is upwardly inclined prevents rain or snow from lodging in the housing to interfere with the contact between the chain 17 and plate 9.

The manner in which the electrical contact is made by means of the chain 17 avoids possibility of any arcing within the housing as a result of movement of the electrode 15 relative to the contact plate 9 caused by expansion or contraction of the glass tube. All exposed electrical conductors are completely surrounded by the housing and suflicient ventilation to keep the end of the tube at a reasonably low temperature is attained through the open end 3 and opening 12.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described it is to be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a supporting member, of a housing having a hollow body portion secured to said supporting member, a glass tube attached to said supporting member and projecting into said housing, an electrode mounted on said tube, a contact plate mounted in said housing beneath said electrode and connected to a lead in wire, and a chain connected to said terminal and hanging therefrom in a manner to frictionally engage said contact plate.

2. The combination with a vertical supporting member, of a housing comprising a hollow body, flanges formed on said body with their flat faces at an acute angle relative to the axis of said hollow body whereby said body projects upwardly at an angle to a horizontal plane when said fiangesare secured to said supporting member, a glass tube mounted on the face of said supporting member and bent to have a portion projecting into said hollow body, an electrode secured in the end of said tube to project into the same and outwardly therefrom, a contact plate mounted in said housing and connected to a source of electrical supply, and a flexible member mounted upon said electrode and engaging said contact plate.

3. The combination with a vertical supporting member, of a housing comprising a hollow body, flanges formed on said body with their flat faces at an acute angle relative to the axis of said hollow body whereby said body projects upwardly at an angle to a horizontal plane when said flanges are secured to said supporting member, a glass tube mounted on the face of said supporting member and bent to have a portion projecting into said hollow body, an electrode secured in the end of said tube to project into the same and outwardly therefrom, a contact plate mounted in said housing and connected to a source of electrical supply, and a chain having one end secured to said electrode and depending therefrom in a manner to engage said contact plate.

4. The combination with a supporting member, of a housing having a hollow body portion, an inwardly projecting lug formed on the inner wall of the closed end of said housing, a set screw supported by said lug and engaging a lead in wire, a

contact plate in said housing engaging said set screw, a glass tube projecting into said housing, an electrode mounted in the end of said tube and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a conducting member mounted upon said electrode and engaging said contact plate.

5. The combination with a supporting member, of a housing having a hollow body portion, an inwardly projecting lug formed on the inner wall of the closed end of said housing, a set screw mounted in said lug and having a lead in wire connected thereto, a contact plate in said housing engaged by said set screw, a glass tube projecting into said housing, an electrode mounted in the end of said tube and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a limp conducting member secured to said electrode and depending therefrom in a manner whereby it engages said contact plate.

CECIL C. LITTLE. 

